S/42
Thunda from down unda
This one took FOREVER to get here, but finally, all is finished.
To date, this is my most extensive project/restoration. It started out with a barrelled action with correct stock (mismatched to rifle), reproduction handguard, and some Model 1929 parts, plus the odd K98 part, that I had obtained from one of our great moderators here - take a bow John P. (John had obtained this from Malaki, for those who keep track of such things). The barrelled action matched thus: action, barrel, sight, ejector box. Nothing else matched, and the only other G29Ö parts were the follower, trigger, upper band and stock.
I set about finding as many correct G29Ö parts as I could, and some thanks go out here:
Peter S - thanks bud! We did some trades that saw me come out with a G29Ö floorplate and the ultra-elusive and exceptionally rare detachable sling swivel (the one that goes on the mid-band, not the common butt swivel)
Mike C - thanks again! Genuine all-matching G29Ö bolt (different to a K98 bolt in a few respects, notably the angle of the handle bend)
Karl Huurre - we did a trade for some G29Ö bands and Model 1929 bands - I used these bands as further trade, but most importantly, to obtain the special band screws unique to these rifles.
Dave "Oswald621" - he was the one that was lucky enough to see and quickly hit Buy it Now on the complete G29Ö stock set on eBay. He sent it to me. The handguard was cracked forward of the band area and the piece missing, but I fixed that. Most importantly, the entire set matched, including the bands.
Tommy Vervest in Holland - Tom found me a K98 rod that matched.
As I mentioned, the handguard was cracked forward of the mid band area, and the broken off piece missing. I decided to splice in a replacement piece of walnut to the rear section of the genuine handguard. I managed to match colour almost exactly, yet the grain is not entirely right - close, but not exact. Still, 100% better than a repro handguard (which I also made with help of Leszek Fox in Poland, who made me a rough handguard to my dimensions that I finished off - it fits VERY well, but in my mind, 50% genuine handguard is better than a repro). If anyone wants details and photos on how I spliced in the handguard, let me know and I will post it.
So, it's now all assembled. It's a bitser, but it's a nice bitser
All up, it cost me about $1500, which is perhaps what a bolt mismatch one MIGHT go for, if you could find one. I don't care about the money - I cared about saving it and adding a very important piece to my collection (seeing I collect pre-1943 Luftwaffe).
The sling is a genuine Vz24 sling, slightly modified. It COULD be period correct. I could not bring myself to add a K98 sling to it ala Luftwaffe style, as it stretches the frosch strap at the front and you almost have to remove the leather at the rear of the frosch. Maybe one day if I find a worn old sling.
All I have done is give the wood a wipe with orange oil (it was VERY dusty and had paint spots on it from long term closet storage), and rust blued the left side of the barrel at the muzzle (someone in it's previous ownerships had removed rust and pits by sanding/filing the metal. I cleaned that up as best possible and rust blued it - it matches the colour of Steyr blue almost exactly).
The only non-G29Ö part now is the triggerguard (ANYONE got one??????) - I am using a nice Imperial Gew98 triggerguard for now (I also have an early Steyr K98 triggerguard, but it lacks the hole for the parade swivel of course, which is a prevalent feature of the G29Ö).
I like it - a LOT. I will do pictures of it in better light tomorrow - I took these near sundown.
Thanks again to all responsible for this one!
To date, this is my most extensive project/restoration. It started out with a barrelled action with correct stock (mismatched to rifle), reproduction handguard, and some Model 1929 parts, plus the odd K98 part, that I had obtained from one of our great moderators here - take a bow John P. (John had obtained this from Malaki, for those who keep track of such things). The barrelled action matched thus: action, barrel, sight, ejector box. Nothing else matched, and the only other G29Ö parts were the follower, trigger, upper band and stock.
I set about finding as many correct G29Ö parts as I could, and some thanks go out here:
Peter S - thanks bud! We did some trades that saw me come out with a G29Ö floorplate and the ultra-elusive and exceptionally rare detachable sling swivel (the one that goes on the mid-band, not the common butt swivel)
Mike C - thanks again! Genuine all-matching G29Ö bolt (different to a K98 bolt in a few respects, notably the angle of the handle bend)
Karl Huurre - we did a trade for some G29Ö bands and Model 1929 bands - I used these bands as further trade, but most importantly, to obtain the special band screws unique to these rifles.
Dave "Oswald621" - he was the one that was lucky enough to see and quickly hit Buy it Now on the complete G29Ö stock set on eBay. He sent it to me. The handguard was cracked forward of the band area and the piece missing, but I fixed that. Most importantly, the entire set matched, including the bands.
Tommy Vervest in Holland - Tom found me a K98 rod that matched.
As I mentioned, the handguard was cracked forward of the mid band area, and the broken off piece missing. I decided to splice in a replacement piece of walnut to the rear section of the genuine handguard. I managed to match colour almost exactly, yet the grain is not entirely right - close, but not exact. Still, 100% better than a repro handguard (which I also made with help of Leszek Fox in Poland, who made me a rough handguard to my dimensions that I finished off - it fits VERY well, but in my mind, 50% genuine handguard is better than a repro). If anyone wants details and photos on how I spliced in the handguard, let me know and I will post it.
So, it's now all assembled. It's a bitser, but it's a nice bitser
All up, it cost me about $1500, which is perhaps what a bolt mismatch one MIGHT go for, if you could find one. I don't care about the money - I cared about saving it and adding a very important piece to my collection (seeing I collect pre-1943 Luftwaffe).The sling is a genuine Vz24 sling, slightly modified. It COULD be period correct. I could not bring myself to add a K98 sling to it ala Luftwaffe style, as it stretches the frosch strap at the front and you almost have to remove the leather at the rear of the frosch. Maybe one day if I find a worn old sling.
All I have done is give the wood a wipe with orange oil (it was VERY dusty and had paint spots on it from long term closet storage), and rust blued the left side of the barrel at the muzzle (someone in it's previous ownerships had removed rust and pits by sanding/filing the metal. I cleaned that up as best possible and rust blued it - it matches the colour of Steyr blue almost exactly).
The only non-G29Ö part now is the triggerguard (ANYONE got one??????) - I am using a nice Imperial Gew98 triggerguard for now (I also have an early Steyr K98 triggerguard, but it lacks the hole for the parade swivel of course, which is a prevalent feature of the G29Ö).
I like it - a LOT. I will do pictures of it in better light tomorrow - I took these near sundown.
Thanks again to all responsible for this one!
